Orange Loses Hard Fought Battle to Pitt, 34-24

Pittsburgh 34, Syracuse 24

SU Post Game Notes
Pittsburgh Post Game Notes
Head Coach Greg Robinson Quotes
SU Student-Athlete Quotes
Pittsburgh Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore Mike Holmes ran back a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown on Syracuse’s first possession in the Orange’s 34-24 loss to Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome.

Holmes had seven kick returns for 207 total yards, one yard short of Najeh Davenport’s single-game BIG EAST record of 208 yards (vs. Syracuse, Nov. 28, 1998).

Senior running back Curtis Brinkley broke the 100-yard mark for the third time this season. He ran the ball 16 times for 119 yards, including a career-long 43-yard bolt in the second quarter.

Senior quarterback Cam Dantley was 9-for-17 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. SU’s signal-caller connected with six different receivers, including junior Lavar Lobdell who had three receptions for 52 yards, including a career-long 26-yard reception.

Sophomore outside linebacker Mike Mele recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including six solo, and sophomore Derrell Smith had 10 tackles. Sophomore Da’Mon Merkerson played both cornerback and wide receiver for the Orange. He is the first Syracuse gridder to play both ways since 2004 when Diamond Ferri did it against Boston College. Merkerson had two tackles, including one for a loss.

Pitt scored a field goal on its first possession, capping a 10-play, 47 yard drive, with 10:37 to go in the first quarter.

Holmes electrified the Carrier Dome crowd on the ensuing kick, returning it up the far sideline for a 90-yard score. The last time Syracuse ran back a touchdown off the kickoff was last season when sophomore Max Suter returned a kick for a score at Louisville.

After the Orange defense held Pittsburgh, the SU offense scored its second touchdown when Dantley threw a 27-yard strike to sophomore receiver Donte Davis with 5:42 left in the first quarter. Davis’ first career touchdown reception gave SU a 14-3 lead.

Pittsburgh cut into the Orange’s lead at 12:10 of the second frame, 14-6, on a 43-yard field goal by Connor Lee. The Panthers ran 13 plays for 61 yards in 4:44.

The Panthers crept to within one point of the Orange, 14-13, when Pitt quarterback Bill Stull hit Dorin Dickerson on a two-yard touchdown pass with 4:08 remaining in the first half, capping the 10-play, 79 yard drive.

On SU’s next possession, Brinkley juked his way up the middle of the field for a 43-yard gain. Senior kicker Patrick Shadle knocked a 25-yard field through the uprights to close out the first half, giving Syracuse the 17-13 advantage. Shadle’s conversion kept the Orange at a perfect 12-for-12 in red zone scoring chances.

Syracuse opened the second half with a touchdown drive. Dantley connected with true freshman wide receiver Van Chew on a 36-yard pass to the left edge of the endzone. The Orange led, 24-13, with 12:40 to play in the third quarter.

On Pitt’s next possession, Lee converted a 44-yard field goal, his third of the game to cap a 10-play, 46 yard drive at 7:20 in third. Pitt’s three-pointer cut the Orange lead to eight, 24-16.

Pitt’s LaRod Stephens-Howling scored on a nine-yard run to pull the Panthers within two, 24-22, with 14:26 to go in the final quarter. The Panthers converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Stull to Jonathan Baldwin to knot the score at 24-24.

The Panthers took the lead, 27-24, on a 25-yard field goal by Lee with 9:17 left to play in the game.

On SU’s next drive, Greg Romeus sacked Dantley and jarred the ball loose. Pitt’s Jabaal Sheard fell on the loose ball on Syracuse’s 34-yard line. The Panthers extended its lead to 10, 34-24, on a three-yard touchdown scamper by Stephens-Howling with 3:22.

Syracuse has an open-week before traveling to Morgantown, W.Va. to face the Mountaineers on Saturday, Oct. 11. The Orange will play it first road game since the season opener at Northwestern on August 30.

Syracuse University Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related News

Related Videos